British Red Cross provides support to those rescued in the Leighton Buzzard police raid

The British Red Cross is providing practical and emotional support to 24 people who were allegedly held against their will as slaves at a travellers' site in Leighton Buzzard. British Red Cross was called in by Bedfordshire Police on Sunday morning, to provide assistance at a rest centre following the raid on the caravan site. The rest centre is providing shelter for the individuals whilst alternative accommodation is found and other necessary arrangements are made.Melissa Magna, the British Red Cross Essex branch community services manager, said: “British Red Cross volunteers are trained to provide practical and emotional support to people in a crisis. “We are checking on the individuals’ welfare and giving them the practical help they need, such as providing clothing, hygiene kits including towels, blankets, emotional support, and recreational activities such as games, radio, DVD’s. We are also providing first aid cover and assisting with registration and serving food and drink. We are providing a 24/7 presence for the duration of the rest centre,” she explained.ENDS

The British Red Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies.We enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help them to recover and move on with their lives.In addition to emergency support in a crisis the Red Cross also works with organisations across Bedfordshire to provide a range of other services, including first aid support and training, tracing and messaging, refugee services, therapeutic care and humanitarian education.